As Development Alters Greek Islands’ Nature and Culture, Locals Push Back

A few years ago, visiting Devon in a wet and windy summer, chef Margie Nomura, host of theDesert Island Dishespodcast, stumbled across Beachhouse cafe on a soggy dog walk at South Milton Sands.

The lure of island life is hard to resist…

Holland America is taking inspiration from the 1920s again for its latest over-the-top Mediterranean cruise.

Whether it’s the notorious portrait of Henry VIII dressed lavishly in full regalia or the great dome of St Paul’s Cathedral competing with London’s modern skyline, some of historic England’s most iconic images are relatively recent in the grand scheme of things. It’s sometimes easy to forget that this is an ancient country, populated for thousands of years. 

Ask a traveler where they’ve visited in Greece, and chances are good they’ll point to Santorini. The photogenic island has fueled social media feeds for years with its whitewashed buildings, black sand beaches, and luxe accommodations.

It’s a new year, but when it comes to world-class food and drink, it’s still the same ol’ London. Meaning there's no Shoreditch—err...shortage of options across this perennially dynamic cityscape. With literally thousands of restaurants and bars worth exploring, there’s obviously no way we can include everything on one measly list. So the task here is to highlight some places that are doing something especially awesome this winter season. Whether you’re in town for a short stay, or a longtime local, check out what’s on below and you’re certain to be satisfied.

Last week Lufthansa made history. Weeks ahead of its major European rivals, the airline resumed scheduled services to Israel. As of last Monday, the German carrier is offering four weekly flights between Frankfurt and Tel Aviv and three from Munich. The routes mark the first time the company has operated to the country since the start of the Israel-Gaza war in early October.

With a deluge of foreign visitors fueling seemingly nonstop development on once pristine Greek islands, local residents and officials are beginning to fight back, moving to curb a wave of construction that has started to cause water shortages and is altering the islands’ unique cultural identity.

When you think of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, you probably think of its giant amusement park-like cruise ships with 10-story-tall slides, go-kart tracks, and many families.

If you search for the hashtag Zante or Zakynthos on Instagram, almost half of the images of this Greek island are of a sandy bay dominated by the wreckage of an old ship.

Six countries now have the world's most powerful passport, according to the 2024 Henley Passport Index — but the US isn't one of them.

I’ll admit it: Armenia was not on my travel radar. From a mass tourism perspective, it remains relatively undiscovered. But this little country filled with beautiful landscapes is exactly what you're looking for when you want to go somewhere no one you know has been. This is a place for those hungry for knowledge and one-of-a-kind experiences. It’s also best enjoyed with the knowledge of a local expert, like Hakob Harutyunyan, who plans custom Armenian itineraries for our boutique travel planning service, Elsewhere by Lonely Planet.